Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Barysaw Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Barysaw

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $783 in Barysaw.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,274 in Barysaw.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,764 in Barysaw.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 10% more expensive than in Barysaw, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Barysaw 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$9.17 BYN 26.40

-78.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$31.09 BYN 89.5

-40.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.58 BYN 16.08

34.05%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.74 BYN 5.00

16.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.64 BYN 1.84

32.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.42 BYN 1.22

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.24 BYN 3.58

72.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.10 BYN 6.06

70.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.75 BYN 2.15

120.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.61 BYN 1.75

157.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.21 BYN 3.49

-1.65%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.31 BYN 3.77

48.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.46 BYN 18.60

150.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.28 BYN 12.34

-30.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.80 BYN 22.47

40.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.15 BYN 3.32

135.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.74 BYN 5.01

-32.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.81 BYN 5.22

-6.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.48 BYN 7.13

-35.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.46 BYN 1.33

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.56 BYN 1.62

114.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.27 BYN 3.66

-47.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.55 BYN 1.58

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.81 BYN 5.22

156.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.62 BYN 24.83

104.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$0.98 BYN 2.83

89.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.74 BYN 5.00

89.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.28 BYN 0.80

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$12.86 BYN 37.04

50.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.36 BYN 3.93

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.32 BYN 0.93

318.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.99 BYN 17.25

37.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.78 BYN 2.26

56.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$20.1K BYN 57.9K

6.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$23.5K BYN 67.7K

-4.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.7 ฿2,378

$53.4 BYN 154

32.37%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.04 ฿472

$7.30 BYN 21.02

92.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$10.44 BYN 30.05

67.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$30.33 BYN 87.4

38.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.71 BYN 13.58

25.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$298 BYN 859

3.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$10.4K BYN 29.9K

43.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$50.2 BYN 144

11.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$42.12 BYN 121

-38.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$116 BYN 335

-28.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$98.3 BYN 283

-28.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$236 BYN 679

1.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$571 BYN 1,645

43.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$463 BYN 1,334

10.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,145 BYN 3,299

67.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$893 BYN 2,571

64.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$680 BYN 1,959

-14.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-64.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Barysaw: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barysaw pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $31.00 in Barysaw. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $163, with Barysaw cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Barysaw: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barysaw is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Barysaw. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $783 in Barysaw – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Barysaw runs roughly 50% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Barysaw gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Barysaw is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Barysaw are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Barysaw gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.